Active volcanoes in Japan

Japan, a country notorious for earthquakes, also has a lot of volcanic activity.

There are 108 active volcanoes in Japan

According to the Japan Meteorogolical Agency (JMA), there are currently 108 active volcanoes in Japan which accounts for about 1/10 of all 840 active volcanoes in the world. Eruptions are detected in an average of 10 volcanoes per year, sometimes causing great disasters. The JMA defines active volcanoes in Japan as volcanoes which have erupted within 10,000 years or volcanoes with vigorous fumarolic activity.

A map of active volcanoes in Japan. Source: http://riodb02.ibase.aist.go.jp/strata/VOL_JP/EN/act_map.htm

The JMA regularly monitors activity of about 30 active volcanoes on a 24 hours a day basis through four regional Volcano Observation and Information Centers located in Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo and Fukuoka. One of these active volcanoes is Mt. Asama which you can read about in one of the previous articles about the Onioshidashi volcanic park.

Is Mount Fuji going to erupt?

Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, is an active volcano which last erupted in 1707. Before that year, it erupted every few decades or 100 years. Toshitsugu Fujii, a professor at the Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo says that 300 years have passed since the last eruption which is already too long and suggests that the next eruption could happen anytime soon. Fujii adds that an eruption of Mount Fuji would likely be preceded by an increase in the number of volcanic quakes.